Telecom Italia (TIM) celebrates the successful sale of its fixed-line grid to the Optics BidCo consortium, led by investment firm KKR. This strategic move aims to reduce TIM’s significant net financial debt and marks a first in major European telecom history.
In a landmark verdict, Telecom Italia (TIM) resolves a decade-long license fee dispute. Awarded a €1 billion payout by the Italian Government, TIM’s victory prompts further scrutiny of the necessity of these fees post-privatization.
Golden opportunity or a hasty gamble? KKR’s pursuit to acquire Telecom Italia’s anticipated NetCo has been met with challenges from Vivendi, TIM’s largest shareholder. Confronting the complexity of separate asset sales and the valuation tug-of-war, it’s clear there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
Following an internal reorganization, Telecom Italia (TIM) has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the state investment bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) to begin talks on a possible merger of its fixed network with the state-backed company Open Fiber. This initiative is aimed at reviving a long-standing goal to establish a single fiber network company in Italy. The notion of combining the networks of the two businesses to create a single national broadband network for Italy has been discussed for at least two years. The government-owned CDP, which has a 60% investment in Open Fiber and a 10% stake in TIM, has long advocated for such an alliance . The government has determined that establishing a unified network will allow for a faster rollout of fiber technology, avoiding an overbuild and maximizing the use of European recovery funding. The decision comes as TIM CEO Pietro Labriola pushes…
The battle over Telecom Italia seems to have to come to an end, as shareholders were called to elect a new board. Telecom Italia’s directors resigned last March. Paul Singer, head of Elliott Management, an activist fund, was successful to get two thirds of the seats. He won the battle over the French conglomerate, Vivendi. Despite only have 9% of the shares, Elliott was able to impose its team over Vivendi that possesses 24% of Telecom Italia. By pointing out the way Vivendi failed shareholder’s interest in Telecom Italia, Singer was able to get a vote in which they had two options. They could either pick up a board composed of ten Italian business personalities selected by Elliott, or keep a team made of Vivendi’s CEO and its employees for the most part. After that loss, Vivendi stated that it would “take all measures necessary to preserve its value and…
In a groundbreaking move, Iliad and Vodafone are set to join forces in a strategic merger that has gained unanimous support from Iliad’s board of directors and its primary shareholder, Xavier Niel. The proposal aims to amalgamate Iliad’s ‘innovative approach to connectivity, affordability, and digital inclusivity’ with Vodafone’s expertise in the business-to-business (B2B) sector.
The European Commission has approved Swisscom’s acquisition of Vodafone Italia, pushing forward an important €8 billion telecom deal. This merger is set to form Italy’s second-largest fixed-line broadband provider, enhancing competitiveness and efficiency. Vodafone plans to maintain service provisions to Swisscom, aligning with its broader European strategy.
Maxis and Huawei collaborate to advance 5G in Malaysia, launching a Joint Innovation Centre. Telecom Italia exits Inwit, selling its final stake for €250 million. Oracle partners with AT&T to integrate IoT connectivity into its platform. TalkTalk secures a £400m lifeline amid financial struggles and leadership changes.
Europe’s telecom industry is alert as the European Union investigates competitive fairness amid KKR’s acquisition of Telecom Italia’s fixed-line network. Questions arise about the impact on market competition and the deal’s opposition by Vivendi, the largest stakeholder in Telecom Italia.
In a notable development, Vodafone has agreed to sell its operations in Italy to Swisscom, the Swiss telecommunications giant, for €8 billion, marking a significant shift in its business strategy. This sale is part of a broader effort by Vodafone to restructure its operations across Europe, aiming for a stronger, more focused presence in growing markets.
